Representative Ryan Williams said the state has a budget in place that will protect the Volunteer State as the COVID-19 situation evolves. A $39.8 billion budget passed around 11:30pm Thursday night. It includes a $350 million addition to the state’s Rainy Day Fund. “It’s obviously our hope and prayer, many of us in the legislature that, you know, our fears ... Read More »

Former Judge Oliver James Hill, who served as a general sessions judge for some 25 years, has died. Hill was 87. The Sparta native served as a founding member of the Sparta Country Club. A visitation will be held in April. Read More »

Local funeral homes are following federal guidelines by limiting the amount of visitors in their facilities for the next several weeks. Jason Horner is co-owner of Hooper, Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. He said the decision did not come lightly. “This is unprecedented for us and the nation,” Horner said. “We have always been able to gather for ceremonies and ... Read More »

After a roughly 90-minute search, Monterey Police found a six-year-old boy who walked away from a home Thursday. Dalton Ray Stevens found just after 10pm Thursday night. Read More »

After spending several weeks rebuilding the power grid along Highway 70, the UCEMC continues to await a rebuild of their facilities. Employees have been able to get back in the highway 70 location that was badly damaged during the March 3 tornado. UCEMC General Manager Jimmy Gregory said they are waiting for their insurance company to give a final assessment ... Read More »

The Cookeville City Council Thursday approved an adjustment to upgrades at the Little Creek Pump Station. Water and Sewer Department Director Ronnie Kelly said re-designing some of the layout at the station would allow for easier access and would be cheaper. The council approved the engineering contract to redesign the lines, priced at $42,800. The work began in 2018 to ... Read More »

Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton and members of the council spent the final minutes of Thursday’s council meeting reassuring local residents. “We are going to stay open for business,” Shelton said. “That is not changing. The city under any circumstance we will still provide services and your water and your electricity and your fire protection and your police protection.” Vice Mayor ... Read More »

State Representative Ryan Williams said school systems will have the option of administering TCAP tests this spring but requirements will be waived. And so should the ties of test results to a county’s funding as well as the grading of teachers. “It will hold teachers and schools harmless as it relates to this year’s data,” Williams said. “They can administer ... Read More »

The Putnam County Library System will close all four branches at the end of business Friday. “It was one of the hardest decisions that we have made,” Library System President Phil Schaller said. “It’s a recommendation we made following American Library Association guidelines.” Staff will be available via phone to help citizens use the library’s online offerings and resources. Staff ... Read More »

Four people in custody, four more being sought after a drug and violent crime roundup across the Upper Cumberland. Police looking for Conan Alexander McCormick, Deddric Antjuan Polk, Britney Nicole Russell, Kenneth Alan Sonia after the roundup. Crossville Police joined the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the US Marshal’s Task Force ... Read More »